Press Releases

Merkley, Schiff, Underwood Lead Push to Increase Nursing Education and Workforce Support

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, California’s U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, and Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) introduced the bicameral Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act. In an effort to address nursing workforce shortages around the country, the FAAN Act would authorize grants to increase the number

Van Hollen, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Aid Workers in Conflict Zones

WASHINGTON – Today, on Human Rights Day, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation to protect humanitarian aid workers operating in conflict zones. The lawmakers’ legislation, the Commitment to Aid Workers Act, would strengthen U.S. efforts to safeguard those who risk their

Senate Republicans Block Merkley’s Bill to Prevent War with Venezuela

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked consideration of his Prohibiting Unauthorized Military Action in Venezuela Act of 2025, which would block federal funds from being used for military actions in Venezuela: “As the Constitution so clearly says, Congress has the power

Merkley, Boxer Laud President’s Commitment to Small Business Lending

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today praised President Obama’s commitment to help small businesses by taking $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid the Troubled Asset Relief Program and using it to help community banks give small businesses much-needed loans.

Merkley Statement on Confirmation of Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve Chairman

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United States Senate voted to confirm Ben Bernanke to a second term as Chairman of the Federal Reserve.  Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the first Democrat to publicly oppose Bernanke’s nomination, voted against confirmation.  Merkley issued the following statement after the vote: “I opposed Ben Bernanke’s

Wyden, Merkley Land Swap Bill Will Preserve More Than 16,000 Acres as Wilderness

Washington, D.C. – Building on last year’s successful efforts to preserve more than 200,000 acres of Oregon lands as wilderness, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have introduced legislation to preserve another 16,000 acres near Cathedral Rock and Horse Heaven by swapping land with private landholders, including

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